Gracie S., an eighth-grade student at Damascus Middle School, recently showed her horse “Tiny” Todd (I am Fearless) at the AQHA (American Quarter Horse Association) Novice Championships, and received the title of Reserve Champion! This was a huge horse show and the first large show in which Gracie has competed.

She describes her experience there by noting that she was in the arena for more than 40 minutes showing “Tiny” Todd (I am Fearless) and was so proud when she was announced a winner! Shortly after doing so well at this show, Gracie was invited to show Rio, a horse she had never shown before, at AQHA Congress, touted as the “world’s largest single-breed horse show.” After the long drive to Ohio, Gracie practiced with Rio for only 15 minutes before showing him for 2 hours! It was worth the trip, as Gracie and Rio placed eleventh out of 83 horses, an amazing accomplishment!